`What's the difference between an EU Commissioner and a shopping trolley?" asked Neil Kinnock at lunch in Dublin last weekend. "While they both go in all kinds of directions, you can get more food and drink into an EU Commissioner."
There were few other Eurocrats present, so his joke went down a treat with the business people and trade unionists who had paid 100 euros to the Labour party to hear the Commissioner speak about the way forward for the new Commission.
Later that evening, Labour leader Ruairi Quinn entertained 50 guests to drinks at his home in Sandymount, with Kinnock as guest of honour. Reports of fisticuffs as the evening wore on are greatly exaggerated. There was a vigorous discussion/row on socialism today, voices were raised and tempers frayed. But hands were shaken and all parted as friends at midnight.